1. each advisor is there for 4 levels.
2. with Mother, the nomad village connects free by road to adjacent squares. so plan your raods to pass through it.
3. try to reach the bonus level with scout or architect, especially on their last level. complete the oasis first. with architect, you already have a city. the scout will either reveal the city or it is in the opposite corner. if this is the advisor's last turn, clicking on the city gives your next advisor.

I just played the trial of this game but I'm tempted to get the whole game.

But I guess I'm dense ... what is the point of the game? It's not possible to uncover the whole map before the barbarians come, right? One person gave a tip to make sure you uncover the Oasis, but the game itself says not to get selfish and just look for the Oasis; you've got to look for cities, too.

Should you try to connect all the cities with roads? What if you don't have enough followers to make roads? What if the roads would have to wind around the moutains so far that it makes it difficult?

Is it good to put more people in the mines? Should you put 10 or 20? If you put a bunch in the mines, will you have fewer people to fight the barbarians?

Do you have to "uncover" the nomad camps for them to join your followers?

I find the game hard because every click costs you a turn, and when the barbarians are coming in 20 turns, it stinks to waste a turn searching a city and find out there's nothing there. Is this the point of the game? Using your turns wisely?

BTW, I found GRRL Gamer's strategy guide--very helpful!